I have taken to not pre-ordering steam stuff after the last round of great GMG deals.

Is anyone having (or heard of) audio issues with this? I've using Realtek 7.1 on-board audio and have zero issues with a ton of other games I have installed and yet Dead Island is frustrating the crap out of me. I've started the game five times in a row and only one of those five times did I have working audio. All of the other times, the sound was fine during the logo / splash screens and through the intro cut-scene. It's once it hits the menu that it first goes south if it is going to. What I hear is an enormous amount of distortion and screeches, with most of it coming from the right side. I thought at first it was purposeful based on your state but the music stays distorted and the audio is completely unintelligible. If it hadn't worked the one time, I would have thought it was broken but since it did... once... ???.

I looked through the Steam forums and didn't see any related post.  

Of course I find the answer after I post this, apparently there are known issues with 5.1 & 7.1 audio in this game, setting my PC back to stereo 'fixed' the issue. Also noticing it doesn't really seem to use my second video card in SLI but I guess that's another known 'issue'. [sigh]

Do you have some type of USB sound card attached?  I had this same issue with ARMA 2.  In my case it was the mono headset/mic cable that plugged into USB from Astro Mixamp.

If you do unplug it and try again.

My List, in release date order:
RO - PC (pre-ordered)
Rage - PC
Battlefield 3 - PC (pre-ordered)
Skrim - PC
Assassins Creed - X360
Saints Row (looking tempting, not 100% convinced) - X360

No Release Date:
SWTOR (Pre-ordered)
Diablo 3

Maybe:
MW3 (Never missed one yet, but B3...) - X360

Batman is off the list until I beat the first.  My bank account is already groaning.
It is interesting, last year pretty much everything was on my xbox list.  This year nearly everything is PC.  Man that was a long console cycle, I guess I am ready for the Xbox 720.

one other thing the game is missing is melee weapons, and I cannot think of a single reason why they couldn't be in the game.

Because that'll be bringing a knife to a gunfight?

Or because you can already kill everyone with a single button?  I guess if you wanted to take on a giant robot with a baton... 

I haven't played any Red Orchestra games ever.  As part of my due diligence before handing over 35 whole dollars I am double checking whether or not the game will be even more excessively filled with snipers than a typical FPS infestation due to the history of the real Stalingrad battle snipers.

Sorry, I thought you said it seemed like there were a lot of snipers in the beta.

Pretty much what Turtle said.  You are going to make more points sniping around an objective than anywhere else.  That said there is a huge advantage of hiding in cover and taking shots rather than charging in.  You need teamwork to charge or you will just get cut down.

In general the maps don't seem to have super awesome sniper nests where the sniper can just hang out the whole game (and if they did anyone with a rifle would take them down after the first kill).  From what I have seen so far, this isn't BFBC2 where the sniper is a speck across the map, in this case the sniper is probably some guy on the other side of the road in a window.  As such if you just hang out a while he is going to fire a shot and reveal himself.

I never played the first RO... does this game tend to attract players more inclined toward voice chat and teamwork?  In other shooters, teamwork is great to see when it happens but I can still do fairly well for myself solo if my team is full of lone guns or incompetent people.  From what I'm reading about RO2 it sounds like I'm going to get picked off the instant I stick my nose out from behind cover unless I have teammates capable of coordinating covering fire.

Also, in the beta so far do there seem to be an even higher prevalence of snipers than usual, due people trying to mimic the Zaytsef/Konig history?

Are you sure they are snipers?  One lucky shot with a SMG or normal rifle will take you down.  You need not only cover but covering fire if you want to assault a position.

Ceekay, for that to happen, Steam would have to get a lot more games. 

I've given up playing my backlog.  I've reached a point where it wil outlive me. Maybe my son can inherit the gaming debt too.

It is always a sad day when you decide to write a game off.  But at some point you just need to say.. "you know what, it just isn't going to happen".

Up to level 6 or 7 in multiplayer. Got my chain axe!

If the instancing is really just for the newbie areas and only until the rush calms down it is a pretty interesting solution to the problem.  Now, if it is really more common than that I will be disappointed. 

I almost quit the game over the first boss. I walked in, no mater what I did I was dead within 10 seconds. I ended up going back a few saves and respecing.

I just don't get this. You don't need a single augmentation to win that fight, and it's not even hard! What were you trying to do, attack him head-on with your weapons? If you're not specced for that kind of approach, why did you do it anyway?

Just look at what the game places in the vicinity. Toss cannisters at him. It's easy, and it can be done by ANY build. He doesn't even need to get line of sight to you for the entire battle if you don't want him to.

If you don't notice the stun effect of the gas canisters it can be a pain.  It took me a few tries to get that.

I remember that to.  Did you need to register your IP on the website before you logged in as well?

Hoping it is patched by the time I get home. 

I want to like this game...

[Spoiler]

Was loving the game...until I hit the friggin' second boss battle.  Now I have to stop playing because I'm so frustrated that I'm not enjoying myself any more.  I went stealth and that means I'm so gimped that I simply cannot defeat her. The first boss battle was annoying enough, but at least you could spam him with explosives.

Penny Arcade was right.  You need to choose your augs according to the boss battles or you're screwed.  This means you literally have to read walkthroughs to figure out what you need, thereby defeating the purpose of having a story in the first place.

My rating went from A- to C due to this stupid gameplay choice.   

There is one critical thing that makes it super easy.

Spoiler for Hiden:

If you get the dermal plating mod that makes electricity not hurt you the fight gets super simple.  Just run around hitting the power supplies when she goes near them.  Once she is stunned unload with the heavy rifle (or whatever else you have).  I had to do it 3 times (out of 4 power supplies) before she died.

It seems that it crashes when you change resolutions, but should still change.  Don't alt tab, leaves artifacts.  If you just get a black screen use win-p and turn off your second monitor.

Kinda clunky so far, the game really screams for quick load and save.  Not sure yet how to not almost die a lot.

I was finally able to shoot someone!

Does the regular version on Steam includes the beta access or is that only for the digital deluxe edition?

I'm still planning to pick this up but probably on the last day of the sale if the beta access isn't included with the regular version.

If you get it from Greenman (Assuming the sale code is still good) you get the DD version for 35$.  Check the deals forum.

Wow, this game is hard.  Played for 20 minutes and never shot anyone I knew of.  I got 28 points somehow.

I got it pre-ordered on the GMG sale.  Pre-loaded and ready to go.

The 20% off code worked a few minutes ago to get RO2.

I'm not that far in yet... maybe 10 hours, and I play slow.

But here's my early review:  I freaking love this game!  If the enemy A.I. weren't nearly completely brain-dead, I would score it very close to 10/10.  This game is right up my alley.  Unfortunately, the A.I. can not be ignored, and that is a shame.

Since the AI isn't on my team I am not really bothered by it.  In fact it is kinda charming.  It reminds me of a throw back to past games shooting one guy, then just building a pile of bodies as the AI wanders over the corpses one at a time.

Now if the AI is just as dumb in DX4 I will need to knock them a point.  You only get to play the throw back card once.

I would assume they just turn on your account.  Still waiting for my invite. 

[Spoiler]

I had one random crash seconds after loading the game.  A second after the first time I beat the first boss (that angered me).  The cut scene started to play with no video or sound, just subtitles.  After a while the text stopped but the scene (or black screen in this case) never went away.

On a happy note I had no trouble killing the boss once I figured out the trick.

Spoiler for Hiden:

Open with any grenade.  Run right and back and throw the gas tank at him while stunned.  Now while he is stunned in gas grab a red barrel and throw it.  Throw a second if you can, if not run to the forward right and grab another gas tank.  Between the long gas stuns/confusion you have plenty of time to pelt him with red barrels.

Now I have an awesome armor piercing, laser sighting, and silenced pistol.  I have gone from the nice guy that tranqs everyone to just putting a quiet bullet in each head.  I might drop the tranq gun entirely to free up space for something else.

Loading off my SSDs it is nearly twice as fast as it was.  Much more reasonable for a game like this that makes me all OCD.

If I focus on my hate for everyone currently playing will that make me a better Sith? 

Uhh, subtract one from BF3 and add it is MW3.  I forgot I pre-ordered BF3 on PC.  I will probably get MW3 on 360 though.

I have been distracting myself playing all of the DLC for Mass Effect 2 (almost finished) and trying to finish Dragon Age Origins.  With Dues Ex coming out tomorrow Dragon Age probably won't happen.

If TOR has the option for good solo and group pve experience, I will be happy.  Add in some battlefield or scenario based pvp and I will be even happier.

I don't need any of that crap.  I need hotpants and a bunch of different dance animations and I'm set.

As long as you still sell me discounted crates of Stims.

Following my new rule of waiting for reviews on anything questionable (after getting  burned one too many times) I ordered it today.  See, and here I thought I was going to get another couple of weeks to work on my backlog.

Read somewhere that they are inviting with priority given first to those who have registered the longest. Any truth to this?

I pre-ordered second day it was open to...I know that will give me a few days head start. But would still love me some testing.

One of you guys roll up an IA would ya? You don't have to tell me how the stealth is, or about the cover system. No, you don't have to tell me anything about the class.

They have said invites are completely random with skews for system specs.  I think there was a quote saying given the same system someone that signed up today had the same odds of getting in.  Something about them wanting statistically sound feedback (rather than have it skewed to superfan feedback only).

Now they have also said for the early access (not beta) pre-orders will be allowed in based on the order you entered your pre-order code.

Sorry, I know that may seem like that to you, but my argument wasn't that particular thing, it was more of the fact the todays lifestyle leaves us somewhat challenged when it comes to attention spans

I completely agr..........Ooooh!  Something shiny!

See, I thought of that joke as well but got distracted before I could even post it.

I'm weak, pre-ordered on Origin.

Yep, it was never killing a companion in combat.  It was sacrificing them as part of the story.  I doubt you could ever attack them in combat, and if you can (maybe AoE?) you probably still can. 

It sucked up a bunch of my weekend and cost my 10$ for a premium account.

Just downloaded it.  This is a lot more fun than I thought it would be.  Definitely one of the top F2P games I have tried.

That looks awesome.  Really seems to capture the old Tribes.

Keep in mind their name reaches beyond the current games. What if they are working on an Elder Scrolls card game? In this case the names could be legitimately confusing. Since they have established the name they have every right to use it for whatever type of game they like.

That said I expect they will back down on this one for PR reasons. It doesn't help to pick on small devs.

Previous implementations of compressed drive volumes spring to mind in terms of how it could have worked. However, it's irrelevant.

It does however, look like Bullwinkle would be clear for takeoff, if he decided to continue with his plan.

Beware those prices, might want to post any potential drive selections here for comment before purchasing. My previous comments about ssd manufacturers, controllers, etc, vs real world performance are still extremely relevant. All ssd's are NOT created equal.

Atomic

They were all done from software in the OS rather than on the drive itself.

Yep! Definitely read up.  AnandTech has a lot of good info.  I'm partial to Intel drives myself.

I may have answered my own question. Reading an article now on sandforce compression, that claims that, indeed, as I've stated, the controllers write less info than you actually send them, to the drive, in order to reduce write amplication... to as low as .5x, which means that they end up writing half the data to the drive, on average, as you actually send them.

However... and this is the first time I've come across this claim... apparently the controller still reports the full size of the file as written to the drive, in order to not confuse the OS.

Which I personally think is gimp, since they could easily allow the end user to reap the benefits of the compression in terms of volume capacity... but I guess they didn't want to go that route.

So you write half the data to the drive (sometimes more, sometimes less, it will depend entirely on the data)... but alas, you don't realize any increase in capacity from it. You just write less data to the drive over time.

I retract my previous statement about getting more out of the drive in terms of size. It appears indeed to be untrue. My mistake.

I'm still pondering the sector alignment vs hdd vs ssd stance though.

Atomic

Two reasons I could think of, first SATA just doesn't do that.  The drive only reports density when you ID it, and windows really only will ID the drive on attach.  Second there would be no way to to tell how much room something would take until it was written.  I could go into a bunch of weird corner cases from there, just think about re-writing over a space with a less compressible pattern after filling the drive.

From what I recall on Win7 as long as you don't upgrade from XP it starts on LBA 64 or something (a multiple of 4KB in any case) rather than an odd number it did in XP.  So if an SSD is sensitive to 4KB alignment they should be fine.

I believe you will get the vast majority (maybe 99.9% even) of the perceivable performance just cloning to the SSD.  That said it will always feel faster if you rebuild because it will just get faster from the rebuild.  The clean experiment would be to rebuild and then clone. I just don't know how you would measure it since most benchmarks wouldn't show a difference in either case.

[it also means you get more out of your drive in terms of size)]

Assuming you have an SSD-aware OS (windows 7 covers this, naturally), when you install the OS, it detects that you're installing to the ssd, and sets up the sector alignments, etc, to the optimal configuration for the hardware. If you just clone the drive image over from a hard drive installation, you wont get any of this. It will still be quicker, but not nearly as 'good' as it could be. (without going into technical details)

Somewhat true.  Alignment isn't an issue, everything on Win 7 will be 4KB aligned from the start, and that only impact some drives.  There are a couple of features that turns on and off in windows for an SSD but nothing that should impact performance too much.  Just make sure defrag is turned off, it is a waste of time on an SSD.  I think, but haven't verified, that it will turn off as soon as windows sees the non-rotational bit on the boot drive(first boot with the ssd).

Honestly unless you feel it is time for a rebuild (or really like rebuilding systems) I wouldn't worry about it.  We are almost getting into religion here though. 

I know Intel also has a clone kit for free download (or at least they did at one point) but I don't know if the drives come with a USB cable, you may need to buy one (~10-15$ on newegg).  Like you said I have also seen Kingston drives with a cable and software.

As far as your 300 gigs. Assuming that it's not all incompressible/pre-compressed data (think audio/video, heavily compressed .zip, etc), then the sandforce based drives do some seriously heavy compression on the fly... better than nearly anything else available. (they use multiple techniques to minimize the amount of data written to the drive, in order to extend the lifespan... it also means you get more out of your drive in terms of size)

If your data is already pre-compressed, you won't get much shrink out of it, though.

For the record... 240 GB ssd's (pretty common size... 256 GB's on chip, with 16 GB of reserve area which is used to reduce fragmentation, etc), tend to run around the 500$ mark. You can get them cheaper, but see above about 'cheap' ssd's.

What ever you do, read around _thoroughly_ before spending money. Check the reviews, even if it's your best buddy trying to slide you one under the bench for a Franklin.

Atomic

http://www.newegg.com/Store/SubCategory.aspx?SubCategory=636&name=SSD&Order=RATING

The density of the drive doesn't change with on controller compression.  I also wouldn't worry about endurance for a laptop, people just don't write that much. 

Big +1, definitely read up on it, there are a lot of SSDs out there and they are not all created equal.

Reminds me of old D&D True Neutral.   Do what the situation requires trying to keep both light and dark in balance for the good of all.